Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2023
This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a program that annually provides, through grants and other means, funding for projects that support the conservation and recovery of native plant and animal species in Hawaii. Hawaii, Hawaiian local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and institutions of higher education may apply for funding under the program.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2459 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2459
To establish a competitive grant program to support the conservation
and recovery of native plant and animal species in the State of Hawaii,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2023
Mr. Case (for himself and Ms. Tokuda) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a competitive grant program to support the conservation
and recovery of native plant and animal species in the State of Hawaii,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Hawaii Native Species Conservation
and Recovery Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) the State;
(B) a unit of local government in the State;
(C) a Native Hawaiian organization;
(D) a nonprofit organization;
(E) a business; and
(F) an institution of higher education.
(2) Grant program.--The term ``grant program'' means the
Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Grant Program
established under section 3(a).
(3) Native hawaiian organization.--The term ``Native
Hawaiian organization'' has the meaning given the term in
section 3 of the NATIVE Act (25 U.S.C. 4352).
(4) Native species.--The term ``native species'' means a
plant or animal species that is native to the State.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Hawaii.
SEC. 3. HAWAII NATIVE SPECIES CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date on which
amounts are appropriated to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall
establish a grant program, to be known as the ``Hawaii Native Species
Conservation and Recovery Grant Program'', to annually provide, through
cooperative agreements, grants, micro grants, or other means, funding
to eligible entities to carry out projects that--
(1) achieve the funding priorities developed under
subsection (c); and
(2) meet the criteria developed under subsection (e).
(b) Purpose.--The grant program shall identify priorities and
provide funding and technical assistance to carry out coordinated,
science-based conservation and recovery projects in the State--
(1) to prevent and mitigate the introduction and spread of
invasive species, pests, and diseases that threaten native
species;
(2) to address the ecological consequences of climate
change on native species;
(3) to address loss and degradation of native species'
habitats;
(4) to manage, maintain, and restore populations of native
species;
(5) to increase scientific capacity to support the
planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary for the
conservation and recovery of native species;
(6) to improve information collection, ecological
monitoring, and management relating to the activities described
in paragraphs (1) through (5); and
(7) to engage the public through outreach, education, and
community involvement to increase capacity and support for the
conservation and recovery of native species in the State.
(c) Development of Priorities.--In carrying out the grant program,
the Secretary shall coordinate with the following individuals to
develop annual, science-based funding priorities for the grant program
that support the purposes described in subsection (b):
(1) The heads of Federal agencies, including--
(A) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (or a designee);
(B) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency (or a designee);
(C) the Secretary of Agriculture (or a designee);
and
(D) the head of any other applicable Federal agency
(or a designee), as determined by the Secretary.
(2) The Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Land and Natural
Resources (or a designee).
(3) The Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Agriculture (or
a designee).
(4) Any other relevant stakeholder involved in the
conservation and recovery of native species in the State that
the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(d) Request for Proposals.--The Secretary shall publish in the
Federal Register an annual request for proposals, in accordance with
the funding priorities developed under subsection (c).
(e) Criteria.--The Secretary, in coordination with the individuals
described in subsection (c), shall annually develop criteria for
ranking project proposals to receive funding under the grant program.
(f) Recusal.--If the State or a unit of local government in the
State applies for a grant under the grant program, then the individuals
described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (c) who are
representatives of the State or that unit of local government, as
applicable, shall recuse themselves from all funding decisions relating
to those applications.
(g) Cost Sharing.--
(1) Federal share.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Federal share of the cost of a project carried out
under the grant program shall not exceed 75 percent.
(B) Exceptions.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project carried out under the grant program may be 100
percent, as determined by the Secretary--
(i) for any project, in the discretion of
the Secretary; or
(ii) if the project--
(I) is carried out by a Native
Hawaiian organization;
(II) significantly contributes to
youth workforce readiness in the
implementation of the project; or
(III) is carried out using a grant
awarded under the grant program in an
amount of not more than $50,000.
(2) In-kind contributions.--The non-Federal share of the
cost of a project carried out under the grant program may be
provided in the form of an in-kind contribution of services,
materials, or access to land.
(h) Requirement.--Of the amounts made available to carry out the
grant program for each fiscal year, not less than 5 percent shall be
used to award grants for projects described in subclauses (I) through
(III) of subsection (g)(1)(B)(ii).
(i) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide technical
assistance to eligible entities to assist in the implementation of
projects that receive funding under the grant program.
(j) Consultation With Native Hawaiian Organizations.--The
Secretary, in carrying out the grant program, shall consult with Native
Hawaiian organizations with respect to any project that receives
funding under the grant program with implications for the Native
Hawaiian Community.
(k) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds made available to carry out
the grant program for each fiscal year shall supplement and not
supplant other funds made available to carry out the purposes described
in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (b) in the State.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORT.
Annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
implementation of this Act, including--
(1) a description of each project that has received funding
under the grant program; and
(2) the status of each project described in paragraph (1)
that is in progress on the date of submission of the applicable
report.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this Act $30,000,000 for the first fiscal year
that begins after the date of enactment of this Act and for each of the
9 fiscal years thereafter.
(b) Administrative Expenses.--Of the amounts made available for
each fiscal year under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use not more
than 5 percent for administrative expenses relating to carrying out the
grant program.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries.
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